by Donna Jackson | published on May 28, 2024
Get ready to batten down the hatches.
Research indicates that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1, could be a doozy thanks to La Niña and increasingly warmer ocean temperatures.
With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an 85% chance of an above-normal hurricane season, which runs to Nov. 30, the United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries encourages congregations to have in place disaster preparedness policies, which include knowing who their Conference Disaster Response Coordinators are. (You can view the CDRC directory here.)
Formerly known as Conference Disaster Coordinators (CDCs), the recent addition of “response” to the name illustrates a renewed focus on better equipping, educating and connecting emergency volunteers and congregations to the resources available in a time of crisis.
“We don’t coordinate disasters. We coordinate the conference’s disaster response,” said Kevin Gehres, CDRC for the Columbus, Ohio-based Heartland Conference.